1 Most tribes of North America on the eastern half of the United States were what we call Woodland Indians. Much of their territory was covered in forest. There they could hunt deer, rabbits, and even bison. They could also fish in the streams and rivers. This was also true of the Creek or Muskogee people.2 It is thought that the Muskogee were originally a western people who moved east. Some people think they were part of the mound builder civilization.3 The Spanish explorer De Soto saw some of them in 1540. He was impressed with their city and its beautiful gardens. The mounds were inside the city, and it was surrounded with a palisade.4 At that time, their civilization was already going downhill. The Spanish left behind more destruction in the form of disease. It is thought that 90 percent of the population of the city died. Those who lived moved to other areas and towns to the east.